Planning, building and the environment

Building Regulations

Communities and Local Government is responsible for Building Regulations. These set standards for the design and construction of buildings mainly to ensure the safety and health of people in or around those buildings, but also for energy conservation and access to and around buildings.

It is important to understand how the building regulatory system applies to your situation. You are responsible for making sure the work complies with the regulations if you are carrying out building work personally.

If you are employing a builder, the responsibility will usually be theirs - but you should confirm this at the beginning. You should also bear in mind that if you own the building - it would ultimately be you who could be served with an enforcement notice if work does not comply with the regulations.

The Building Regulations cover:

Structure
Fire safety
Site preparation and resistance to moisture
Toxic substances
Resistance to the passage of sound
Ventilation
Hygiene
Drainage and waste disposal
Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems
Protection from falling, collision and impact
Conservation of fuel and power
Access to and use of buildings
Glazing - safety in relation to impact, opening and cleaning
Electrical safety

Communities and Local Government publishes guidance on meeting the requirements in what are known as "Approved Documents".

Building regulations are different from planning permission and for many types of building work separate permission will be required under both regimes.

How to get approval

You can seek approval through your local authority or use a private sector Approved Inspector. You can also employ a builder registered with a recognised Competent Person Self-Certification Schemes who may be able to self-certify some or all the work they are carrying out.

If you believe your work cannot be expected to comply with one or more of the requirements in the Building Regulations because they are too onerous or inappropriate, you have the right to apply to your local authority for a relaxation or dispensation of those requirement(s) so your completed building work complies. If they refuse your application you have a right of appeal (in England) to Communities and Local Governement or (in Wales) to the Welsh Assembly Government, providing you do so within one month of that decision.

When a local authority or Approved Inspector says your plans do not comply with one or more of the requirements of the Building Regulations but you believe that they do, you can ask the Secretary of State (for cases arising in England) or the National Assembly for Wales (for cases arising in Wales) for a determination.

There is more information on all these subjects on the general public section of our Planning Portal (external link) which is a one-stop source of information on all planning and building regulations matters.

There is also in-depth information on our Planning, building and the environment policy site.